Jacob Rodriguez: Rising Star in NFL Draft

0:00On April 10th, with the NFL draft just two weeks out, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is climbing draft boards fast. He dominated college football as the top linebacker in 2025, racking up in same production despite his age keeping him from being the first off the board at his position. Luke Keckley, one of the all-time greats, can't stop raving about him. Keckley loves how quick Rodriguez processes the game, lines up, and reacts, plus those elite ball skills that made him a turnover machine last season. Rodriguez for seven fumbles and snagged four picks, hitting double digits in turnovers, which is wild for college ball. That even earned him high-smen votes, validating his blend of aggressive play and high football IQ, especially shining in coverage. Now, the Carolina Panthers are eyeing him hard at their 51st overall pick in the second round, but projections have him going late first round, or top 15 picks of round two, so they might need to trade up, maybe packaging their second with A, fourth or fifth rounder.

1:04Panthers GM Dan Morgan, a former linebacker himself, was spotted chatting with Rodriguez at Texas Pro Day, so expect Carolina to push hard and snagged this rising star early.